Retractable Step Stool

ABSTRACT

A retractable step stool includes an enclosure, a lower step and an upper step. The steps are slidably attached to opposing side interior walls of the enclosure; each step has a front surface and a tread surface adjacent to a top edge thereof. A mechanism at the rear of the lower step includes an extension spring secured the enclosure and levers connected to the extension spring. The spring is under tension while the step stool is closed, and when released causes both the lower and upper steps to move outward from the enclosure. In the closed position, the upper and lower steps are housed inside the enclosure while the upper step front surface and lower step front surface are flush with each other; in the open position, the steps extend outward from the enclosure, the lower step extending further from the upper step so that the tread surfaces are exposed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to a step stool suitable for installation inpublic places. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a step stoolthat is convenient and retractable while being adapted for permanentinstallation.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Small children often need assistance reaching items on or above astandard countertop. For example, at a lavatory in a public restroom achild may have to lean against the countertop and stretch to reach thewater taps, and very often needs assistance reaching the soap dispenser.It is desirable to instill in a child the habit of washing hands,particularly when using a public restroom, to prevent the spread ofcommunicable diseases (e.g. swine flu). However, it is difficult andsometimes impossible for a child to properly use the lavatory unaided.

Step stools, including step stools for children's use, are well knownbut typically are not adapted for use in public places. It is desirableto implement a step stool that is rugged, easy to use and fullyretractable when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides a retractable step stool suitable forinstallation in public places, such as under the countertop in a publicrestroom.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a retractable step stoolincludes an enclosure, a lower step and an upper step. The enclosure hasa substantially cubical shape and one open side. The lower step isslidably attached to opposing side interior walls of the enclosure, andhas a front surface and a first tread surface adjacent to a top edge ofthat front surface. The upper step is slidably attached to the opposingside interior walls of the enclosure above the lower step, and has afront surface and a second tread surface adjacent to a top edge of itsfront surface. The front surfaces of the lower and upper stepssubstantially cover the open side of the enclosure when the step stoolis in a closed position. A mechanism, effective to cause the lower stepto move outward from the enclosure, includes an extension spring securedto a rear interior wall of the enclosure and levers connected to theextension spring and secured to the lower step. The spring, which isunder tension while the step stool is closed, relaxes when a latch isopened; in an embodiment, the latch is opened by pressure on the frontof the lower step.

The lower step may have a protrusion extending upward therefrom,configured to contact the upper step during outward movement of thelower step to thereby cause the lower step to move outward from theenclosure.

The step stool has a closed position in which the upper and lower stepsare housed inside the enclosure while the upper step front surface andlower step front surface are flush with each other at the open end ofthe enclosure; and an open position in which the upper and lower stepsextend outward from the enclosure, the lower step extending further fromthe upper step so that the first tread surface and the second treadsurface are exposed.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features ofthe present disclosure so that those skilled in the art may betterunderstand the detailed description of the disclosure that follows.Additional features of the disclosure will be described hereinafter thatform the subject of the claims of the disclosure. Those skilled in theart should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conceptionand specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying otherstructures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosureand that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scopeof the disclosure in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a step stool according to an embodiment of thedisclosure in a closed or retracted position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the step stool of FIG. 1 in an open or extendedcondition.

FIG. 3 shows in cross-section view a step stool according to anembodiment of the disclosure, schematically illustrating mechanisms forextending and retracting the steps.

FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically illustrate a lower step of a step stoolaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure in its closed and openpositions respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A step stool 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, inits closed position, is shown in FIG. 1. Step stool 1 includes anenclosure 10 which houses steps 11 and 12 when in the closed position,so that the front faces of steps 11 and 12 are flush with each other andwith the front edge 13 of the enclosure. Enclosure 10 is provided withfittings (plates, straps, bolts, etc.) for securing the step stool tothe floor. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, plates 15 with bolt holestherein are secured to the bottom of enclosure 10.

FIG. 2 shows step stool 1 in its open position, with steps 11 and 12both fully extended from enclosure 10. The tread surfaces 21, 22 of theupper and lower steps may be provided with a non-skid coating 25. A userwould normally stand on tread surface 21, but not on top of enclosure10. All components of step stool 1 preferably are ruggedly constructedto be suitable for use in public places.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a step stool according to an embodimentof the disclosure in its open position. In this embodiment, steps 11 and12 are mounted to the interior side walls of enclosure 10 with slideassemblies 31, 32 respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, when lower step 12is caused to slide forward, a protrusion 33 contacts the lower edge ofthe front of step 11 and causes step 11 to slide forward also. In anembodiment, steps 11 and 12 are made of wood and protrusion 33 comprisesa wood block on the upper surface of step 12. Steps 11 and 12 need nothave complete top, bottom and rear sides; for example, only portions ofthe top sides of the steps (that is, tread surfaces 21, 22) are exposedwhen the step stool is in use.

A mechanism for opening the step stool, by causing step 12 to slideforward, is shown schematically at 35. In general, mechanism 35 issecured to the rear interior wall of enclosure 10 and exerts forceagainst the rear portion of step 12. Suitable mechanisms include (forexample) clock-springs, extension springs with levers, and gas springs(also called gas charged shocks). In other embodiments, an electricmotor may be used in combination with a shaft or cable secured to step12.

Step 12 may be held in the closed position using a latch (not shown)which releases when the step is forced slightly inward (for example, byfoot pressure on the front surface of the step). In operation, pressingon the front surface of step 12 releases the latch, so that mechanism 35causes step 12 to move forward on slide arrangement 32; once treadsurface 22 is exposed, further forward motion of step 12 causesprotrusion 33 (a wood block, in this embodiment) to contact step 11 andcause step 11 to move forward, thereby exposing tread surface 21. Thestep stool may be returned to its closed position by pressing on thefront surface of step 12, thereby moving step 12 rearward into enclosure10. When the front surfaces of steps 11 and 12 become flush with eachother, the upper rear edge of step 12 engages a downward protrusion 36at the rear of step 11; protrusion 36 may be a metal plate, a woodblock, etc. Further rearward movement of step 12 thus causes step 11 toalso move rearward into enclosure 10. When step 12 returns to its closedposition, the latch is re-engaged; both steps are thus held insideenclosure 10.

In an embodiment, a spring 41 is connected to lever 42, which in turn iscoupled to lever 43 attached to step 12 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). In theclosed position of the step stool, spring 41 is extended, and levers 42,43 are retracted toward the rear of enclosure 10 (FIG. 4A). When thelatch holding step 12 is released, spring 41 relaxes and forces levers42, 43 to push step 12 forward. In the open position of the step stool,spring 41 is at least partially relaxed and levers 42, 43 are extended(FIG. 4B).

Enclosure 10 and steps 11, 12 may be made of a variety of materials. Ina preferred embodiment, these components are made of a durable plasticmaterial.

Step stool 1 may advantageously be bolted to the floor under thecounter-top in a public restroom (as all public restrooms have openareas under the counter to permit access to the plumbing pipes). Stepstool 1 may be situated so that it is out of the way when not in use,but can be opened and used by children that require it.

While the disclosure has been described in terms of specificembodiments, it is evident in view of the foregoing description thatnumerous alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended toencompass all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fallwithin the scope and spirit of the disclosure and the following claims.

1. A retractable step stool comprising: an enclosure with one open side;a plurality of steps configured to move outward from the open side ofthe enclosure; and a mechanism for causing the lowest step to moveoutward, wherein the mechanism when actuated causes the lowest step tomove outward from the enclosure, and each step other than the uppermoststep is coupled to the step above at least during a portion of outwardmovement of said step other than the uppermost step, so that outwardmovement of the lowest step causes each other step to move outward,thereby exposing a tread surface of each step.
 2. A retractable stepstool according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is adapted to besecured to a floor.
 3. A retractable step stool according to claim 2,further comprising a plurality of plates secured to the enclosure, eachplate having a hole therein for receiving a fastening effective tofasten the enclosure to the floor.
 4. A retractable step stool accordingto claim 1, wherein each step other than the lowest step is coupled tothe step below at least during a portion of inward movement of said stepother than the lowest step into the enclosure, so that inward movementof the lowest step causes each other step to move inward, therebyretracting each step.
 5. A retractable step stool according to claim 1,wherein the steps are slidably attached to interior walls of theenclosure.
 6. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein thetread surface of each step has a non-skid portion.
 7. A retractable stepstool according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises anextension spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure.
 8. Aretractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein said mechanismcomprises a gas spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure.9. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, further comprising areleasable latch effective to prevent outward movement of the loweststep when said step stool is in a closed position.
 10. A retractablestep stool according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure and the steps areof a plastic material.
 11. A retractable step stool comprising: anenclosure having a substantially cubical shape and one open side; alower step slidably attached to opposing side interior walls of theenclosure and having a lower step front surface and a first treadsurface adjacent to a top edge of said lower step front surface; anupper step slidably attached to the opposing side interior walls of theenclosure above the lower step, and having an upper step front surfaceand a second tread surface adjacent to a top edge of said upper stepfront surface, the lower step front surface and the upper step frontsurface substantially covering the open side of the enclosure when saidstep stool is in a closed position; and a mechanism effective to causethe lower step to move outward from the enclosure, the mechanismcomprising an extension spring secured to a rear interior wall of theenclosure, a first lever connected to the extension spring, and a secondlever connected to the first lever and secured to the lower step;wherein the lower step has a protrusion extending upward therefrom,configured to contact the upper step during outward movement of thelower step to thereby cause the lower step to move outward from theenclosure.
 12. A retractable step stool according to claim 11, whereinthe step stool is configured to have a closed position in which theupper and lower steps are housed inside the enclosure while the upperstep front surface and lower step front surface are flush with eachother at the open end of the enclosure, and an open position in whichthe upper and lower steps extend outward from the enclosure, the lowerstep extending further from the upper step so that the first treadsurface and the second tread surface are exposed.
 13. A retractable stepstool according to claim 11, wherein the enclosure, the lower step andthe upper step are of a plastic material.
 14. A retractable step stoolaccording to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of plates securedto a bottom edge of the enclosure, each plate having a hole therein forreceiving a fastening effective to fasten the enclosure to the floor.